Camera



H. R. HAYs ET AL CAMERA Filed NOV. 28, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVE/VTHSHOWARD HAY WILLIAM CQRNELISSEN er W@ Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED. STATES PATENT ori-lc-E.

HOWARD R. HAYS .A-ND WILLIAM CORNELISSEN, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS T0 HOWARD S. LEVY AND LIONEL F. LEVY, BOTH 0F PHILADELPmA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

CAMERA. 1 7 Application med Noveniber 2s, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD R. Hays, a citizen of the United States, andWILLIAM ,CoRNELIssEm a citizen of Holland, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and. useful Improvements in Cameras, of which the followingis a specification. x

This invention relates generally to photographic apparatus usedinconnection with process cameras and has reference more particularly toimprovements in the construction and arrangement of an adjustable screenholder, operating mechanism for imparting uniform parallel movement tothe front box of the camera with respect to the plateholder and focusingglass, and a light proof adjustable lensboard mounting lenclosed withinthe front box and controlled from a remote point in the camera.

-In cameras of this character, where exact' alignment between. thescreen and the sensitive plate is an absolute necessity, more or lessadjustment of the screen holder must be made, and, as such cameras arenowl constructed, before the adjustment may be made the plateholder isfirst removed from the camera. This is notv desirable principallybecause the proper relation between the two members may be more readilydetermined while 4the plateholder is in position tha-n with it removed.The invent-ion, therefore contemplates the use of such mechanism as willfacilitate relative adjustment of the screen holder without need ofremoving the plateholder from camera. l

Exact precision in the operation ofthe front box @with respect to theback box of such apparatus is also of vital importance especially wherematched plates may be required to be made at different times and afterthe position of the camera has been changed lto do other work. It hasbeen 'found therefore, that the operation of the front box by means of acentrally disposed screw extending throughout the entire length of thecamera bed, a construction now in use, is not to be relied upon, owingmainly to the fact that such movement being performed at av pointsubstantially1 midwa)v of the width of the front box allows the latterto turn at a slight inclination to the kuneven results are more oftenmechanism which the b Serial No. 518,184.

the axis of the camera bed and in so doing causes a more or lessdistorted projection of the subject upon thesensitive late. Such ound inold cameras -where the guides have become worn and there is considerableplay between the moving parts. It is then, a further object of thisinvention to provide operating will insure positive parallel movementof, the front box relative to the back box and which may be controlledfrom a remote point in the camera.

In cameras of this general type as'now constructed, it is the usualractice to mount the lensboard and the mec anism for o rating the sameon the 'outside of the front panel in the front box with the result thatthe mechanism itself projects considerably beyond the camera and on aplane substantially level with the camera bed. Such an arrangement notonly leaves the mechanism exposed to cause possible injury to theoperator, but materially limits the working capacity of the camera inthat themaximum` gagement of the projecting mechanism with the forwardend member of the camera bed. In the further ob'ect to carry theadjustable mountings or the lensboard inside the front box and to soarrange the operatin mechanism cooperating therewith that t e latterwill be entirely enclosed above and below the front box itself.VVith-the mechanism so disposed the front panel of the forward ox may bemoved forward to engage with the end of the camera bed therebyincreasing the enlarging capacity of the apparatus and at the same timeremove possible danger of the operator becoming engaged in the gears.

present invention, itis a still 'vided with toothed metalracks 11secured to upper faces thereof and disposed in substantially parallelrelationv to one another. Mounted to travel over the racks 11 are thefront and back vboxes 12 and 13 respectively,

i each of which may be moved relatively to adapted to seat in thecamerabed 10 and also with respectto each other, as hereinafterdescribed. The front box l2 comprises a rectangular wooden trame closedat its forward end bymeans of a iront. panel 12 and open at the oppositeend to receive one end of a bellows 14. The bellows itself comprises anextensible acrordion pleated central portion 15 secured at its oppositeends to 'rigid metal trames 1G the open ends of the boxes 12 and 13.` InFigure 1, an additional box like supporting member 17 is shownsupporting the intermediate section of the bellows 111. This member .17is used to hold the center portion of a very long bellows or, as iu thepresent instance, it receives the oppositeA ends of two bellows whichare used when the front box and back are widely separated.

The parts ot the camera, thus far deseribethare those whichare 'commonto all apparatus racks 11 extend the entire length of the frame 10 toprovide a track for both the front and back boxes, while in mostcameras, as now constructed, the racks do not 'extend beyond thepossible field otmovernent ofthe" back box.

The screen adjusting mechanism which is best shownvin Figures 1 and 2and which will now be described, is carried by the back box 13. Mountedin suitable bearings prof.`

below the lowermost corneis vofthe jecting box 13 and in mesh with theteeth of the racks 11 are a set of casters 18 havin@r their rollersprovided ywith gear teeth, The rear right hand caster (looking forwardtrom thejrear of the Camera) bed frame 10 operating the backbox 13.vAttachably= sup ported upon the'rcar edge of thef-b'ox'13 is aplateholder 21 having the usual slide curtain l22. Closelyadjacent"the'-path of movement of the curtain22andadjiistable axially otthe box 13 are the screen supporting channel pieces 23 disposed at'Vopposite sides of the box and provided with aligned grooves toieceivethe edges of the screen (not shown two forwardly projecting arms24 spacedv of this charac-ter, except that the v is n'iounted-on:L1-shaft 19,l projecting outwardly' over the side of` thevv to .receivea hand wheel 2 0 for 'ina -wise "fixed vto a counter shaft 47 extendingEach channel piece carries considerably apart from one another andprovided with slots 25 to receive' the stems ot' guide srrews 26 whichare mounted in threaded openings in a pair ot slide bars 27 and whichare adapted to be tightened against the arms 24 subsequent to relativeadjustment ot' the latter to hold them rigidly to the slide bars 27x.The slide bars 2T move in the grooves 28 of two pairs of guide members29 which are secured to the upper and lower portions of bars 30 andwhich extend to the rear edge of the box 18. The bars 30, one on eachside of the box, are secured to the opposite walls 'ofv the latter by'wood screws 31. Slightly below each 'pair of guide members 29 andintermediate the of the box 13 and which projects through to theexterior thereof at one side to receive a lever arm (not shown). It willbe noted lthat with this construction the screen may be adjustedrelative to the plateholder and with respect to the slide bars 27 byremoving the adjacent end of the bellows 14'trom the box 13, and rbyreleasing the vscrews 26 the channel pieces 23 may be adjusted to anydesire-d position without disturbing the plateholder. l

In describing the mechanism for moving the trontbox 12, reference willbe had particularly toFigures 1, 3 and 4. Projecting substantiall7 theentire length ot the frame i 10intermec iate the width thereof and within close proximity of its upper face, is a `square shaft 3S mounted atits forward end in a'bearing 39 on the inner end portion of `the -frame1() and at its other end the shaftv SSeXtends through the rear end otthe traine oamxir 10 and receives la-crank handle 40. Slidably mountedon the square shaft 38 and eontined betweenthe downwardly projectingforked beari'n'g41'jot casting 42 is a worm 457 whlchsisprov'lded withan interior bushing l44.'liavmga vsquare boreto receive the shaft 38. lnmeshvwith theworm 43and disposed between upwardly projecting forkedbear- 45is a worm wheel 46 keyed or othertransversely'off the camera andbeneath the front box 12;l The opposite ends'of the shaft 47 arevmounted in suitable bearings in a pair of angle pieces 48 secured toand projecting below the bottom wall of the box' 12. A pair; o-ftierods49, one at each side ot thesha-tt'fare secured at their opposite ends inthe downwardly projecting rtion of the angle pieces 48 and extend trough openings in the casting 42. In Figures 3- and 4, it will be notedthat the shaft- 47 crosses the racks 11 at a plane substantially abovethat of the racks and in order to move the front box with relation tothe camera bed 10 by the rotation ofthe square shaft 38 and thetransverse shaft 47, a air of toothed pinions 50 is keyed to the attershaft, the pinions being keyed adjacent the opposite ends thereof, anddirectly in mesh with the racks 11. The forward box 12 is guided in itstravel by means of small an le pieces 5l secured to the outside of thelongitudinal members of the camera bed 10, the horizontal flanges ofthesaid adapted toL engage with inside grooves 52 clit- 1n the other anglepieces 48.

he lensboard mounts are operated from points in the camera, bed disposedat each side of the shaft 38-and by means of two square shafts 53 and 54which proJect rearwardly through the frame 10 and which are adapted toreceive the crank handle 40. The forward ends of the shafts 53 and 54are journaled in bearings of the bearing 39 at the front of the camerabed 10.

Referring now to the mechanism for operating the lensboard mounts,particular reference will be had to Figures 3, 4 and'5, inv

which the shafts 53 and 54 cooperate with other mechanism to operate thevertically movable. mount and the horizontally movable mount,respectively. Each shaft 53 and 54 extends through the square bores of apair of loosel mounted bushings 55 which are journaled 1n dependin lugsprojecting rom the casting 42 and W ich project substantially beyond theface of the lugs to support a pair of bevel gears 56 and 57, directlyoperated by the rotation of the shafts 53 and 54, respectively, meshinof upright bevel gears 58 an at its lower end to the gear 58^andextending through a bearing in the casting 42 is an uprightly disposedspindle 60 which projects through the bottom wall of the front box 12and which is provided with a. continuous spiral thread 62 extendin fromthe upper end thereof to a point slig tly short of the wall of the box.In a similar manner the other bevel gear 59 i's keyed to the lower endof a second upright spindle 63 which likewise extends through the bottomwall of the box 12 at a plane substantially parallel to the axis of thespindle 60 and which is provided with a square portion 64 extending fromthe upper end thereof to adjacent the bottom of the box. By theoperation of these spindles 60 and 63 the proper centering of the lensmay be made relative to the object to be photographed.

The front panel 12a of the forward box 12 59. Keyed angles pieces 51beingl disposed at eachvv side I the relatively vtoward each other to-ing in one end than 1n the other end and with a pair` `on the inside ofa point is provided with a square opening 66 through which the lensbarrel projects and at opposite sides of which are pairs of verticallydis osed guides 68 having the grooves of eac pair facing the grooves ofthe opposite pair. Slidably mounted in these grooves of the guidemembers 68 is the' vertically movable mount or frame 69 which is heldagainst the inside face of the panel l2* by the guides themselves-andwhich. carries adjacent its lower edge a bracket 70 having a threadedbore to receive the threaded end vof ,the spindle 60.. The mount 69 alsohas a. central square opening 71, slightly smaller than the opening 66with which it registers, and ris provided-with two pairs of laterallydisposed guides 72 arranged above and below the opening 71. Slidablymounted inthe grooves of the guides 72 and held against the first mount69 by the guides themselves is thehorizontally movable lensboard mountor frame 73 which is provided with a square central opening 74 having amarginalderession or shoulder 75 in which the lensoardpropel-is sea-tedand which Vcarries a horizont-all disposed rack 77 alon its lower edgeMes ing with the teeth o y77 is a pinion gear 78 supported in a bracket79 carried bythe first mount 69, the said pinion being provided with asquare bore adapted t0 slide axial] f of the spindle 63, whereby Whenthe latter' is rotated through ythe operation of the shaft 54 by thehandle 40 the pinion 78 will cause the rack 77 and mount 73 to movetransversely across the axis of the camera. v

In order to obstructv light rays, which may find their way into. theinterior of the front box 12 through any possible space between movablemounts for the lensboard, it has been found desirable to provide ashadow Vbox 8O which comprises a rectangular frame the, sides of whichare inclined provide a smaller openwhich is supported in brackets 81mounted the forward box 12. The smaller end of the shadowr box isprovided With a flat flange 82 which is on a plane substantially vatright angles to the axis of the box itself held lightly against the rearface of the mount 73. The size of the smaller opening in the shadow box80 is determined' by the relative movement of the two mounts with andwhich is adapted to be' the rack 4 respect to the front box 12 and mustbe such as will permit l of the lens in either vertical or horizontaldirections and still be within range'of the opening defined by theflange 82. Itmight also be desirable to mount the shadow box 8O direct]on .the mount 73 so that the dan '82 wouldy register with the edges of e.opening 74.` such a construction the shadow box 8O would move with theAmount ull movement of the axis,

iVith reference to Figure for the spindles and 63, will first strikeagainst the walls immediately surrounding the mounts and will then bedeflected at an angle equal to the angle at which the rays areprojected, i. e. the inclination at which 'the light entered. Due totheclose prox"- imitybf any of these possible avenues of light to thefront wal1'12a the angle at'which the light could projectI a *fewdegrces,in` which'case thelan'gle of detlectionwwould. be so slight thatthe paths of thel .lightyrays' would still remain within' the box 12'.vWith the defie'ctedrays thus confined they vwould further engage thein-` clined'outer surfaces of the shadow box 80,

such surfaces being preferablycoated withl a dullV black li ht"absorbingA material.

these inclined` surfacesV Upon'lcontact wit whatlittle strength mayremainto the light willbe-rendered nugatory as the rays wil tiro platewhichl it willbe recalled is atth'e rmi: end of the bellows 14.A

The operation of the invention will bev briefly reviewed. in thefollowing :---,Assu'm ing thatit is necessary to adjustvthe'screenbidders-23 at their upper ends to bring them into closer relation withthe plate or plate holder 21, the latter may be moved transversely ofthe back box 13 in order to permit the use of a screw-driver for thescrews 26 or the rear end vof the bellows 14 may be disengaged and theoperator permitted to work through the open end ofy the-back box13.y

The screws l26 are then unscrewed in the upper slide members 27 andthearm 24 holding.l the screen supporting channel pieces 23 is adjustedtowards the plateholderi 21 until the desired position has beenobtained. The same adjustment may be made on the other side of the boxandthe screws 26 again tightened. The simplicity with which thisadjustment is made will be further appreciated when it is understoodthat heretofore it has not only been necessary to reinove'theplateholder from the i back box 13, but the bars 30 have had to beshifted with relation to the walls ofthe box 1:1 and vface of theplateholder 21.

'lo advance or withdraw. the box 12 over the racl-:s 11 the handle isplaced on the shaft 3S and the latter revolved, vwhereupon the worm 43will rotate the worm. wheel 46 69 and 73 or through the openings in thebottoni wall of thebox and shaft 47. With the rotation of the i shaft 47thetoothed wheels 50 will turn and cause the angle pieces 48 and box 12to move riageas well as the tie rods 49 and angle 'pieces 48 will alsotravel throughout the tield'of possible movement of the forward box.,The lens having being properly focused the latter may need to becentered which sometimes requiresA both vertical and horizontalmovementof the lens. To raise the' lensv the handle 40 is placed onshaft 53 '.and the latter rotated, whereupon the bevel frears 56 'andf'Sand spindle 60 will revolve tomovexthe-bracket over the thread 62.

'Inc-this way the mount 69' will-be 'guided in .the guidemembers 68 andthe optical vaxis-'of the lens will be moved toits proper. position withrespect to the focusing center on lthe ground glass.

placedl on the shaft 54, whereupon rotation4 of the latter will revolve'the pinion 7 9 and movev the track 77 with the mount 73 transverselyacross the longitudinal axis of the ycamera.- Any possible position thatmay result from the vertically movable mount 69 `will in no wayinterfere with the operation of the pinion 79, due to the square boreinv the latter which permits it to travel over the square portion of theupright spindle 63 1 and still remain under the controlo'f .therevolving spindle 63.

Having fully described thev present inveny 110 tion and disclosed itsmode of operation, what we claim and desire to secure by LettersPatentiszv 1. In a camera of the character described, the combination withrelatively adjustable front and back boxes of a closed frame forsupporting said boxes, means disposed in the frame for controllingrelative longitudinal adjustment of the boxes, and lens board adjustingmeans carried by the front box rearwardly oit' its` forward extremityand cooperating with the controlling means to enable theJ said front boxto be adjusted to the full capacity ofthe frame without meeting withobstruction from the said lens board adjusting means.. j

2. 1n a camera of the character described, the combination with a camerabed having parallel racks extending substantially the entire lengththereof, of a back box adapted to be supported on said bed and inengage- In a similar manner the horizontal movement "of the mount 73 islbrought about, except that the handle 40 is be againdeflectedbackwardsaway from all possible chance of finally striking the sensi' iisl ment;with said racks, a carriage supporting said front box and slidahlysupported at opposite sides on said bed and provided with gears forengaging' said racks, asquar(x rotary shalt extending longitudinally ot'said bed. and transmission mechanism tor rotatin;r said gears carried bv said earriage and slidabl)Y intrrengaged with said rotary shaft.wherebyv uniform parallel movement ot sai-d front box with respect tosaid hack liox will hold the axes ot' thetwo boxes in exact alignment.

3. In a Camera of the character described, the Combination with a camerabed frame havingr parallel toothed racks extendingr longitudinallythereof, of a carriage supporting a front box having the lens mountedtherein, ear traction Wheels, carried at opposite sides of said oarriageand engaged with said racks, a square shaft operating longitudinallyofsaid bed frame. a transmission member mounted in said carriagerearwardly of the front of said box, a

counter shaft upon which said gear wheels are mounted, and. a wormtransmission earried by said transmission member andslidably mounted onsaid square shaft` wherebyv said front box may he moved axiallyy of saidbed frame without altering the axial travel of the optical axis of thelens.

4. In a camera, the cou'ibination of a bed frame, a travelingI carriagesupported thereon, a front lens box carried by said carriage, relativelymovable lensboard mounts within said box and adjacent the front panelthereof, triple parallel square shafts operating longitudinally of saidbed frame. and means carried by said carriage and slidably mounted onsaid square shafts, whereby the mounts mayY be independently operatedwith relation to eac-h other and the carriage moved independently andaxially of said bed frame.

In testimony whereof we have axed our signatures.

HOWARD R. HAYS. WILLIAM CORNELISSEN.

